394 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



of the rabbits killed on these occasions will be 

 found lying a yard or two inside the opposite 

 patch. 



Gorse rabbit-shooting is hard and hot work 

 both for beaters and dogs, and especially so for 

 the latter, the dead spines of the gorse penetrating 

 their feet, and it takes an exceptionally bold and 

 resolute dog to work continuously under such 

 circumstances. The dogs also suffer greatly from 

 thirst, for there is but little air amidst the stems 

 and undergrowth, and it is not only humane, 

 but wise, to afford them frequent opportunities 

 for being watered during the day. Where the 

 covert is thick and high, it is necessary to keep 

 the ale-jar circulating freely amongst the beaters 

 to induce them to face it, and it frequently happens 

 that from the time they enter a patch of gorse 

 until they emerge thereform, they are unseen, 

 though by no means unheard, the combined effects 

 of gorse and John Barleycorn being manifested 

 by the most discordant yelling and shouting, a 

 part of the performance which they consider to 

 be essential to success, and the summit of their 

 happiness is attained should one or other of their 

 number go down in the thorny mass. Everybody 

 enjoys the fun, except the rabbits, which get a 

 rough time of it, for those which go to ground are 

 speedily pulled out, the loose, light soil favouring 

 the operation ; the dogs catch a great many, and 

 those which cross the rides are either killed, 

 peppered, or frightened out of their wits. 



